Speedway Motors No-Weld '35-40 Ford Chassis - Frame By Numbers

1/24If you can follow instructions, read a tape measure, and drill holes, you are capable of assembling a chassis like this. It was built using a series of bolt-together chassis components from Speedway Motors.

Building a street rod chassis has traditionally been a task best left to professionals. It not only required years of acquired fabrication skills and a thorough grasp of suspension theory, but also a shop full of specialized tools and equipment. It was not an endeavor for novice rodders.

2/24The starting point for the Speedway Motors bolt-together chassis assembly is a pair of reproduction ’35-40 Ford framerails (PN 916-03540). Laser cut from 11-gauge steel, the rails are fixture welded to ensure accurate and consistent shape, and include mounting holes for OEM body mounts and crossmembers.

So what if we told you that there was a way for today’s average street rodder to assemble a professional-quality chassis for his ’35-40 Ford in his own garage—using nothing but a drill, a few sockets and wrenches, and a handful of common garage tools. Would you believe us? It may seem like a far-fetched idea, but Speedway Motors is about to make a believer out of you.

You may recall the Speedway Motors bolt-in IFS crossmember we showed you in the Oct. ’11 issue (“Bolt-In Independence,” page 130). The Speedway Motors team has expanded on the bolt-together concept used on that crossmember and now offers a complete series of bolt-in chassis sub-assemblies for the popular fat-fendered Fords. The result is the ability to assemble a complete ’35-40 Ford chassis without plugging in a welder.

Each of the Speedway Motors bolt-together chassis components are engineered to work with OEM framerails, although Speedway’s new 11-gauge framerails (PN 916-03540) make an excellent starting point and alleviate the need to straighten original ’rails and strip off years of rust and grime. Speedway’s new Tubular Bolt Together Center X-Member (PN 910-63540) bolts to the framerails using boxing plates and includes a removable transmission mount and brake pedal mount. The aforementioned Mustang II Bolt-On IFS Crossmember (PN 910-43540) provides the foundation for assembling a great-handling independent front suspension, while the Bolt-In Rear Frame Cross Support (PN 910-83540) and Bolt-On Rear Leaf Spring Kit (PN 910-93540) allow you to have an equally updated rear suspension. A bolt-in triangulated four-bar rear suspension package is also available.

3/24The Tubular Bolt Together Center X-Member (PN 910-63540) is designed to strengthen the chassis and facilitate an updated drivetrain. It will fit original framerails or Speedway’s reproduction ’rails. Built from 1-1/2-inch OD, 0.095-inch wall tubing, the assembly features partial boxing plates, a dropout transmission mount, and a brake pedal and master cylinder mount.

The accompanying photos illustrate the typical assembly sequence that will take you from a bare set of framerails to a complete frame. Since each frame sub-assembly is available separately, you can pick and choose only the items you need, or purchase them as time and funds allow. Even better, everything except the framerails can be shipped via standard ground freight, saving you costly truck freight charges. Add that to the savings you’ll realize from not having to hire a professional chassis builder or an experienced welder, and it’s easy to see how Speedway’s innovative bolt-together approach to frames makes chassis building more cost effective than ever.